State trooper arrested in domestic assault

Police: Wife told medical staff she was injured falling down steps

By Scott Beveridge

Staff Writer

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A state trooper assigned to the Belle Vernon barracks has been arrested on charges he assaulted and threatened to kill his wife during an argument Wednesday at their home in Sutersville, Westmoreland County.

Paul Christian Mauser, 39, who has been living since his arrest at 653 Sixth St., Donora, is charged with making terroristic threats, aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment, court records show. The Associated Press reported that the trooper has been placed on unpaid leave over the incident.

Mauser is charged by state police Cpl. Michael McElfresh in Greensburg with pushing Jennifer Mauser down a flight of stairs, breaking her left ankle about 9 a.m. at 274 Scothaven Road in Sutersville, the criminal complaint says.

She told police her husband threw coffee at her before pushing her to the floor and kneeling on top of her while threatening to kill her, McElfresh stated in the affidavit.

She then went upstairs while the argument continued and was met at the top of the stairs by her husband, who allegedly pushed her backward down the stairs, the record shows.

Jennifer Mauser said she crawled into another room, where her husband grabbed a pool stick and said something had to happen since she was hurt and that “one of us has to die,” the affidavit states.

She said she asked her husband to take her to Westmoreland Excela Health in Greensburg, where she would say her ankle injury had been caused by her falling down the steps. Once at the hospital, its security called the police after she informed the staff about the assault, the affidavit indicates.

Paul Mauser is free on $5,000 bond set by District Judge Charles Christner in West Newtown. His mother, Mary Ellen Mauser, posted the bond and he is under orders to reside at her home and have no contact with his wife, a court official said. Christner scheduled the trooper to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. March 4.

It was not immediately known if Paul Mauser has hired an attorney to represent him in the case.